Metal planking for railway crossings



Jan. 26, 1932. E. M. BRADLEY METAL PLANKING FOR RAILWAY CROSSINGS Filed Jan. 19, 1931 Patented Jan. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES ERNEST M. BRADLEY, OFiWEEDSPORT, NEW YORK METAL PLANKING Fon RAILWAY oRossIpNGs Application mea January 19,1931. ,serial No;l 509,806.

This invention relates to surface structures for railroad crossings, roadways, bridges, etc. and has for an object the provision of a metallic structure which may be mounted upon a suitable support to provide a raised roadway whose horizontal plane is the same as the tread surfaces of railroad tracks, so that the invention is especially useful for railroad crossings.

Another object of the invention is the provisionof a surface structure which is com- .posed of a number of complemental units to provide a surface of any length and width, together with simple and efficient means for l5 connecting the units.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a railroad track with the invention in position for use.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the units.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section illustrating the manner of connecting the units.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character indicates the ties of a railroad track, the rails of which are indicated at 11.

The invention comprises a number of separate units 12 which are adapted to be secured 4 between the rails 1n parallelism and upon the outsides of the rail. These units each com- .prise elongated channel-shaped members and comprise relatively inclined side walls 13 and a top wall 14;. This top wall is disposed in a plane with the treads of the rails 11 and is corrugated or roughened as sho-wn so as to provide traction adhesion. By inclining the walls 13 in the manner shown, increased resistance against bending is provided. f

Extending from the longitudinal'edge of one side wall'of each of the units is a flange 15 which is provided with openings V16 for the passage ofspikesl or other fastening devices 17 by means of which this side of the channel-shaped unit maybe secured to the yties 10. The. oppositeside wall 13 has' eX- tending therefrom lugs 18 and these lugs are oppositely offset so as to provide a clamping engagement over the secured edge or flange 15 of an adjacent unit, whereby the units will' be securely held in position.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings that the invention provides a simple, light, durable and efficient means for constructing railroad crossings and structures of a similar character, and due to its simplicity of construction may be readily and quickly laid and securely held in position.

The lugs 18 adjacent the rails 11 engage over the edges of the base anges of the rails so that it is only necessary to spike down one edge of each unit. The intermediate units have the lugs 18 thereon engaging over the edges of the spiked flanges of the companion units.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is here-` in reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. A metallic surface structure comprising a plurality of inverted channel units having the closed edges of the units disposed in the same plane, a supporting structure for said units, means to secure one longitudinal edge of each of the units to the supporting structure, and means providing an interlocking connection between the secured edge of one unit and the other edge of the neXt adjacent unit.

2. A metallic surface structure comprising a plurality of inverted channel units arranged in parallel relation with the closed edges of the units disposed in the same plane, a supporting structure for said units, means to secure one longitudinal edge of each of t-he units to the supporting structure, and

oppositely offset lugs extending vfrom the other edge of each unit-for clamping engagement with the secured edge of the next adjacent unit. Y Y n 5 3. A newV article of manufacture comprising a sheet shaped to provide an elongated y channel` member. rincluding opposite side Wa11s gaf ange l extending'lateralfly from the f longitndinl edge of one of said Walls and 10 having openings therein, and oppositelyoset lugs .extendingirom'ithe fllongitudifn'al. edge of the other Wall. y v Y g 4. A new article olf-"mann-'faeture'comprising a sheet shaped toprovide an ,elongated y 15 channel member inclndingoppojsite, relativelyfvinclined side Walls, a flange extending i laterallyv Afrom thel .longitudinal -edge ,of one .of said wa11s and having openings therein, Y* iand'oppositely osetlugs extending from the .-,20 longitudinaledge of the other Wall.

"lntestimeny WhereofIaiX my signatnre. n i l ERNEST BRADLEY. e 

